Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-03-04
A NO.LICENSE SUCCESS.


The town of Natick, Mass, IS miles
west of Boston, whose chief industry is
the manufacture of shoes, had failed to
make much material progress for several
years. There was little demand for real
estate and most everybody wanted TO sell.
But last year, after hard struggle at
the polls, the town voted not to license
liquor selling during the year. An econ
omy and order association was formed
and an active pubic sentiment was arous-
ed in favor of better state of public
morals.
The statistics for ten months show a
saving of nearly four thousand dollars in
seectmen's orders as compared with the
corresponding period of the previous
year. Five liquor dealers have left town,
forty-four have been convicted, eleven
have paid fines amounting to $3.50 and
costs, two are in the house of correction
and four more have been sentenced there.
There were only 81 DRINKS before the po-
lice court in six months, against 10l for
the corresponding period of the year be-
fore, and of that number q came in from
other places. During the same time there
were only 16 assaults and other misde-
meanors, against A the previous year.
Grouping the DRINKS and oflenses, for
which Natick rum was responsible, and
it appears that there was 2l5 per cent
more crime under license than there was
under no license.
But this is not all. The poor account
was reduced, during the ten months re-
ferred to, $934.10, which was a saving OF
more than one dollar in every seven. II
had been predicted that the enforcement
of prohibition would drive away trade
The reverse proved to be true. All the
merchants report more trade and more
cash and people who formerly bought the
cheapest goods are now buying better
quality. Encouraged by these signs OF
order and prosperity, capitalists have in
vested nearly 100000 in permanen
building improvements, real estate ha
enjoyed an advance in price and the trans
actions have been more active than be
fore for twenty years.
Now here is a case in an average larg,
village, which shows conclusiyely how
mach better it is for individuals and com
munity to do without liquor. The none,
that was formerly worse than wasted ha
gone to increase the comforts of HON
and family. A drunken man has becom
a rare sight. Order reigns and industr,
revives. Expenses diminish and tn
value of property increases. People o
means become attracted to such a town
1t is no longer under a blight. The ga
looms no longer control the elections
These are simply the material open am
apparent benefits; but if we could Loo
into the homes of men who have cease
to drink and see how much more comfort
able, how much happier they are, all tina
can be measured by mere dollars an
cents would become insignificant in con
parison with the personal, moral and sc
cial reformation.
This example deserves emulation. TAX
our Vermont centers, take Rutland, TO
instance. We have no occasion to yot
license or no license, but in every othe
respect we need to revolutionize as Matte
did. Some old residents and promineu
citizens say there is more drinking her
than there has been before for twent
years. 1t is checking our general pro:
perity and hurting the town in ever
way. 1t leads to recklessness and eA
travagance in private affairs and publ
affairs. 1t increases the poor account
makes heavier demands on charity, inter
feres with industry, makes collection
difficult, endangers life and property
repels outsiders, and is in every sense
burden, shame and destruction. We car
not afford it and all good people ought t
combine against it.-Rutland Herald.